OPPOSITION to a controversial proposal to build a second tunnel under Brynglas and widen the M4 to four lanes has spread across Newport.

St Julians' Lib Dem councillor Ed Townsend said some residents in the ward could face being moved if the proposal to widen the M4 between junctions 24 and 29 came into being.

The £550 million scheme – known as option D – is one of four being looked at in a Welsh Government consultation on measures to reduce congestion and improve safety and pollution on the M4.

Cllr Townsend said several streets such as Stockton Close, Stockton Road and Cumberland Road "are in the shadow of the motorway".

He said without detailed plans he couldn't know exactly, but "any widening of the motorway would either encroach on their homes or require them to be moved".

He added: "I really don't think that's the right way to go about addressing this particular problem."

Cllr Townsend – who was the only Lib Dem left in the council after the May election – said around 60 people attended a recent meeting in the ward over the issue.

"We don't think the proposal for an extra tunnel would address the problems that the motorway has," he said.

"If there is a problem with one of the tunnels Newport would still grind to a halt."

He said his preference in the consultation was for a new dual carriageway south of Newport – known as option A – which would cost £830 million.

He said if the right decisions were made about junctions and the route, the proposed road would take through traffic away from Newport providing an alternative route.

As well as options A and D, the Welsh Government consultation is also looking at two proposals for the Southern Distributor Road – providing either signal controlled junctions or new separated junctions.

For more information on the consultation, which finishes on July 6, visit www.m4cemconsultation.com.